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A Bethesda house fire on Thursday began from a car catching fire in the garage. News4's Erika Gonzalez caught up with the homeowner, who has lived there for more than 20 years. (Published Friday, May 4, 2012)

A family of three was home when an explosion set fire to their garage Thursday night in the 5100 block of Baltimore Avenue in Bethesda, Md.

Jerry Gilreath, who lived at the home for 20 years, told News4 he became aware something was wrong when the lights inside the home began to flicker.

“All of a sudden I heard a boom," he said. "Then I opened the garage. There were flames there.”

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the car to explode.

Gilreath and his two family members got our safely. The family's three cats are still missing.

The family is staying with friends. They said they do have insurance.

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